6 Ways to Upgrade Your Bar

Party season's over, it's time to re-stock

Death’s Door Gin is from Wisconsin, and it’s made sustainably from local winter wheat and wild juniper berries. The former gives it a lovely bone-dryness, the latter are more distinctly aromatic, spicier and spikier than the commercial sort used by most distillers. It’s an incredibly simple drink (just three aromatics compared to upwards of 20 you might find in other gins!) but is all the lovelier for it. This is one you’d drink straight.

Seriously, is this a "Buy American" piece in disguise? Get Bulldog then. From the UK, but not quite old-hat. It’s far mellower in flavors than its compatriots, and it immediately makes you feel like everyone else has the volume set way to high. Juniper, botanicals and spices whisper to you as if across a clear icy lake.

Benjamin: so happy to give the shout out, it's really such an exceptional gin. One of my favorite bartenders uses it for a signature Last Word, any recommendations from you guys (or anyone else here) for a fresh, spring, gin-based cocktail?

Keep up the great work. Hoping to make it up to Washington Island eventually to see you guys in action.

hmmm... a gin-based spring cocktail? lately i've been experimenting with my own take on the "cherub's cup" (muddled strawberries, hendrick's, st. germain's, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped with champagne or brut rose).

my version - for the moment - consists of muddled blueberries and raspberries, junipero gin (although i may try death's door after reading your description), st. germain, and fresh lemon juice. my girlfriend likes it topped with ginger beer, i prefer a splash of club soda or nothing.

personally i've been pretty damn satisfied, and it certainly is a fresh-tasting beverage. give it a try and let me know what you all think...

Martin Miller London gin taught me to love gin. It has all the herbal goodness of Bombay Sapphire but I like this better. It's sweet and aromatic, tickles the tongue, and cries out to you "Taste Me", preferably chilled.

That's a bottle of Evan Williams Black Label in the picture, not the single barrel (in case anyone wants to pick some up). The EV single barrel is a great whiskey, but for a Beam/Daniel's replacement I'd suggest Buffalo Trace as closer to the price point.